Forecast

Game report: UConn women survive early scare, beat BYU

on March 30, 2014

l

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had 19 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to lead top-seeded UConn to a 70-51 victory over 12th-seeded BYU Saturday in the NCAA regional semifinals before 9,585 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It is the first time in her career that she has had two straight double doubles.

It was the largest crowd in the NCAA tournament this season.

The game was close in the first half and the Huskies trailed in the second half for the first time this season (31-30, 35-34).

Image 1of/17

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 17

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) is fouled by BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) is fouled by BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma yells instructions to his players during the second half of a regional semifinal against BYU at the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma yells instructions to his players during the second half of a regional semifinal against BYU at the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29,

BYU coach Jeff Judkins throws his hands up during the first half of a regional semifinal against Connecticut in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson, center, defended by BYU's Jennifer Hamson, second left, looks to pass during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson, center, defended by BYU's Jennifer Hamson, second left, looks to pass during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb.,

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) is defended by BYU's Kim Beeston (4) and Morgan Bailey (41) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) is defended by BYU's Kim Beeston (4) and Morgan Bailey (41) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb.,

BYU's Lexi Eaton, right, gets tangled with Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Lincoln,

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson (4) goes for a loose ball in front of BYU's Kim Beeston (4) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson (4) goes for a loose ball in front of BYU's Kim Beeston (4) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 29, 2014, in

BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) and Kim Beeston (4), jockey for position against Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma follows his team during the first half of a regional semifinal against BYU in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma follows his team during the first half of a regional semifinal against BYU in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) shoots past BYU's Kim Beeston (4) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014.

BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) tries to shoot over Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) tries to shoot over Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29,

BYU's Lexi Eaton, left, and Connecticut's Bria Hartley (14) scramble for the ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

BYU's Lexi Eaton, left, and Connecticut's Bria Hartley (14) scramble for the ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29,

BYU's Kim Beeston (4) is blocked by Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

BYU's Kim Beeston (4) is blocked by Connecticut's Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson (4) goes for a layup against BYU's Jennifer Hamson, rear, during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Connecticut's Moriah Jefferson (4) goes for a layup against BYU's Jennifer Hamson, rear, during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday,

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) shoots past BYU's Kim Beeston (4) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) less

Connecticut's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (23) shoots past BYU's Kim Beeston (4) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. ... more

Photo: Nati Harnik, Associated Press

Image 16 of 17

BYU's Lexi Eaton, left, and Connecticut's Bria Hartley (14) scramble for the ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) less

BYU's Lexi Eaton, left, and Connecticut's Bria Hartley (14) scramble for the ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, March 29, ... more

Photo: Nati Harnik, Associated Press

Image 17 of 17

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) takes a shot in front of BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Lincoln, Neb. Connecticut won 70-51. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver) less

Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson (31) takes a shot in front of BYU's Jennifer Hamson (5) during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 29, 2014, ... more

Photo: Dave Weaver, Associated Press

Game report: UConn women survive early scare, beat BYU

1 / 17

Back to Gallery

The Huskies (37-0) will meet either third-seeded Texas A&M or seventh-seeded DePaul in the regional final Monday. They have reached the regional final for the ninth straight season and are seeking to advance to the Final Four for an NCAA-record seventh straight season.

BYU (28-7) was bidding to become the lowest seeded team ever to reach a regional final.

Breanna Stewart finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals for the Huskies. Bria Hartley added 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Stefanie Dolson had nine points, 13 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and two steals, while Moriah Jefferson contributed 11 points, four rebounds and three steals.

STAR OF THE GAME: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. She had 19 points, 13 rebounds (career-high eight offensive) and four assists in a season-high 36 minutes. It was her second straight double-double and her fourth this season.

KEYS TO THE WIN: Trailing 27-21 in the first half, the Huskies finished the half with a 9-2 run. ¦ With the game tied at 37, the Huskies scored 10 straight points as part of a game-breaking 15-4 run.. The Huskies later added a 16-2 run to open a 68-48 lead with 4:29 left. ¦ The Huskies had 20 offensive rebounds and scored 27 second-chance points.

WORTH NOTING: Dolson set a team record by making her 149th career start. She is one start shy of tying the national record set by former Stanford standout Kayla Pedersen. ¦ The Huskies have won 43 straight games dating back to a 61-59 loss to Notre Dame in the Big East tournament final March 12, 2013. ¦ The Huskies improved to 20-2 all-time in NCAA tournament regional semifinals. ¦ The Huskies are 94-17 (.847) all-time in NCAA tournament play. ¦ BYU was the third No. 12 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1994 (San Francisco, 1996; Kansas, 2013). ¦ The Huskies scored 30 points in the first half (lowest output of the season). ¦ Stewart has scored in double figures in a career-high 28 straight games. ¦ Hartley scored in double figures in a career-high 21 straight games.